Art Deco

The architect Albert Van huffel was looking for the deeper meaning of ornaments in architecture. His lifes work, the creation of the national basilica of the Sacred Heart, is therefore the most honest and interesting Art Deco building in Western Europe.

The Art Deco features consist of clear and straightforward lines, composed of compact and simple volumes in brick, stonework and natural stone. The buildings structure is completely made of reinforced concrete, using glazed terracotta as permanent framework. The glazed terracotta as a decorative element inside the building creates a specific warm atmosphere, in spite of the chilliness of the material itself.